Details for ISSUE 8 - AN OVERVIEW OF KEY SRHR AND HIV-RELATED LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY GAPS IN THE PROGRAMME’S

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ISSUE 8 - AN OVERVIEW OF KEY SRHR AND HIV-RELATED LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY GAPS IN THE PROGRAMME’S

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Lesotho’s policy environment supports gender equality and women’s SRH rights, however, gaps exist with implementation and customary laws continue to place women and girls at risk of HIV. GBV is not currently recognised as a criminal offence in Lesotho.

Laws on age of marriage are contradictory and allow for early marriage. The Lesotho Children’s Protection and Welfare Act defines a child as a person below the age of 18 and prohibits child marriage. However, the Marriage Act (1974) allows girls of 16 and boys of 18 to marry. There is no legal minimum age for customary marriages.

There are also contradictions between policies and laws relevant to key populations, which hampers HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) progress. Sex between men and various aspects of sex work are criminal offences. The current absence of a National AIDS Council (NAC) is also significant.